Etymology Map
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Coquette

3 stages from French to English.

Today it means a flirtatious woman

Where does the word "coquette" come from? It comes from French coq, passing through French before entering English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
coq
French · medieval
"rooster"
a rooster
2
Stage 2 of 3
coquette
French · 1600s
"flirt"
'little hen', from 'coquet', a strutting little rooster, a flirt
3
Stage 3 of 3
coquette
English · 1610s
"flirtatious woman"
'coquettish' followed in the 1700s
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Read the full story

Coquette’s story begins in French: coq meant “rooster.” A rooster. Within French, it grew into coquette by 1600s. 'little hen', from 'coquet', a strutting little rooster, a flirt. It reached English by 1610s as coquette. 'coquettish' followed in the 1700s. Today, coquette means a flirtatious woman.